Friends,
This is the current list of Republican senators who have not committed whether or not they will vote to confirm Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education:
1. Gardner-Co
2. Toomey-Pa
3. Flake-Az
4. McCain-Az
5. Sullivan-Al
6. Heller-NV
7. Portman-Oh
If you live in their state, please call and urge them to oppose DeVos and stand up for our children, our teachers, and our public schools. Urge them to oppose privatization of our democratic community schools.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Will call Portman again.
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Thanks…will get busy and make the calls. Thought McCain announced the other day with his buddy Graham, that they were going to vote for DeVos, but with discomfort???
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I thought I saw that, too.
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I’ll give another call to Portman as well.
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Great. I will contact Corey Gardner again.
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However, he did respond to my letter by extolling her “leadership” skills.
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Leading the pack in buying politicians, eh!
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Take Toomey off this list. DeVos donated $60,050 to his campaign.
“Toomey believes DeVos is a ‘great pick’ spokeswoman says”
http://www.phillyvoice.com/toomey-spokeswoman-devos-great-pick/
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She donated $40k to Lisa Murkowski. She is voting against her.
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Heller released a statement saying he is supporting Devos. 😦 http://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=pressreleases&id=EF101523-5C29-499D-A821-2ACA0F4162E5
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Nevada is uniquely possible, too.
U.S. Senator Dean Heller said he’ll support DeVos…but he is up for reelection in 2018–in a swing state that Hillary won, elected America’s first Latina senator, and flipped two House seats. That shows him his electorate is leaning left.
He could be the deciding vote on DeVos’ nomination. KEEP CALLING HIM – these are your kids we’re fighting for.
Vegas: 702-388-6605
Reno: 775-686-5770
DC: 202-224-6244 or 202-224-3121 Please copy, paste, and share.
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Sullivan—AK? (Alaska, not Alabama?)
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I’ve called mc cain and flake numerous times, when they have someone answering their phones and have cleared their voicemail boxes, telling them NOT to confirm her.
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Look at the Twitter feeds for these two. They each have a statement re: their DeVos votes, but the best part is the zillions of tweets from constituents.
https://mobile.twitter.com/sendeanheller/status/826911156254150658
https://mobile.twitter.com/jeffflake/status/826926186597085188
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That was a treat Kathy!
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Heller has announced voting Yes 😦
http://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=pressreleases&id=EF101523-5C29-499D-A821-2ACA0F4162E5
Fischer of Nebraska is still undecided- she has a degree in education.
Please add her to your maybe list, Diane.
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Thanks for this heads up, Terry…. will call her now….so many lines are busy, but most have voice mail for messages.
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Terry, I just receive some thuan deom a campaign worker last night:
Nevada is uniquely possible, too.
U.S. Senator Dean Heller said he’ll support DeVos…but he is up for reelection in 2018–in a swing state that Hillary won, elected America’s first Latina senator, and flipped two House seats. That shows him his electorate is leaning left.
He could be the deciding vote on DeVos’ nomination. KEEP CALLING HIM – these are your kids we’re fighting for.
Vegas: 702-388-6605
Reno: 775-686-5770
DC: 202-224-6244 or 202-224-3121 Please copy, paste, and share.
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“just received this from…”!!
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Sen. Portman saw the light, when his son came out as gay, a few years ago. We can hope Portman’s self-admitted, prior mistake, in supporting a state ban on same-sex marriage, will make him reject proponents of homosexual conversion.
Sen. Portman, with hope, also recognizes the huge fleecing of Ohioans by the charter industry.
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There is no way that Republicans do not already have the votes to approve DeVos.
Susan Collins is NEVER allowed to vote against the Republicans unless her vote won’t matter. She already showed her true colors when she voted to approve Betsy DeVos out of committee. That was when the Republicans needed her and she happily complied as she always does when they need her vote to push through their extreme right wing agenda.
She now has “permission” from her right wing bosses to vote against DeVos now that her vote is meaningless. Period. They own her lock, stock and barrel and it suits them to allow her to pretend to be a moderate when they know her vote is meaningless.
If DeVos wins, Collins needs to be held accountable for her vote out of committee. Period. She NEVER let any Democratic legislation come up for a vote when it came to agreeing to the right wing filibuster of any reasonable moderate legislation that the republicans didn’t have the courage to actually oppose in a vote of the entire Senate.
Collins voted FOR DeVos. And if she wins, it is Collins who made sure that she did when she had the power to stop it. I hope the voters of Maine realize this and hold her accountable. I find Collins worse than the far right because she is the biggest profile of cowardice I have ever seen.
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I suspect you’re right about the GOP and Collins knowing the vote was locked up before she was given the green light to announce her decision. I do believe that having her win 51-50 is better than 51-48…and maybe having someone with such a large percentage of national disapproval like DeVos in charge of the department may be better than a replacement who sails through. (Of course, I could be very, very wrong here…but when was the last time we had a good Secretary of Education?)
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So much for her St. Lawrence University roots.
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http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/presidential/No-Pat-Toomey-wont-sink-the-Betsy-DeVos-nomination.html
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http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/presidential/No-Pat-Toomey-wont-sink-the-Betsy-DeVos-nomination.html
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Republican Senator Shelly Moore Capito of W. VA might consider a no vote for DeVos… if she realizes that public education is at risk with a DeVos vote! If she stands by her words maybe there is a chance??? Found these articles on her website:
Shelley Moore Capito US Senator for West Virginia
11.18.16
U.S. Senators Capito and Baldwin Recognize American Education Week
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced a bipartisan resolution honoring the goals and ideas of American Education Week. The resolution urges the people of the United States to observe American Education Week by reflecting on the positive impact of all those who work together to educate children.
“Knowledge is a powerful tool and a resource everyone deserves access to. As the mother of three children who are products of our local public schools in West Virginia, I saw firsthand how hard the teachers, administrators and staff worked to create a safe environment for students to learn. Let’s celebrate public education this week by honoring and thanking those who have played such an influential role in so many lives,” said Senator Capito.
“American Education Week is an opportunity for us to reflect on and celebrate our public education system and those who do the hard work of educating our children,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am excited to celebrate its 95th anniversary this year.”
November 14 through November 18th, 2016, marks the 95th annual observance of American Education Week which is an opportunity to celebrate public education and honor individuals who are working in public education.
A copy of the resolution is available here.
01.10.17
Capito and Manchin Announce More Than $4.8 Million for West Virginia Healthcare and Education
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced that $4,821,155 will be awarded to the MountainHeart Community Services, Roane Co. Family Health Care, Raleigh County Community Action Association and West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services. This funding will support Head Start programs in Raleigh County and Oceana, West Virginia. It will also fund maternal and child health services for families in West Virginia and support primary care medical services in Roane County.
“Investing in a healthy start for West Virginia’s children and mothers is critical to the long-term wellbeing of our state. I supported funding for these important programs as a member of the appropriations committee, and I am glad these resources are being directed to West Virginia,” said Senator Capito.
“Investing in Head Start, maternal healthcare and rural healthcare is important to ensuring every West Virginia child has the foundation they need to be successful,” Senator Manchin said. “Every West Virginian deserves access to quality healthcare and education. I’m glad this funding will support organizations that are committed to the well-being of our families in Raleigh and Roane Counties, Oceana and across West Virginia.”
Individual Awards Listed Below:
• $1,406,129 – MountainHeart Community Services, Inc.
• $1,219,445 – Roane County Health Care, Inc.
• $327,859 – Raleigh County Community Action Association, Inc.
• $1,867,722 – West Virginia, Department of Health and Human Services
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I live in PA and have been calling and emailing. Also just an FYI, Toomey was spelled wrong.
Sent from my iPhone
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Well- this is interesting – Broad opposes DeVos. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2017/02/01/eli-broad-billionaire-philanthropist-and-charter-school-backer-urges-senators-to-oppose-devos/?utm_term=.705877955f51
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B/c Broad knows that there needs to be public schools to warehouse the unwanteds.
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Cornyn is apparently on the fence as well. A friend that reached his office said his staff confirmed this. Get in touch with his office if you’re in Texas. Prevent DeVos from getting the nomination.
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If Cornyn doesnt support DeVos, that’s huge. He is a vocal proponent of school choice. I don’t have much faith in him, as one of his Texan constituents, so I’ll be surprised if he votes no.
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Senators McCain and Flake, you are better than that. Of all the states, Arizona DESERVES someone better qualified. Be the Maverick, take the high road and do what is right for our youth and for America, NOT what your GOP cronies think. That is being short sighted.
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Undecided about DeVos?
Isn’t that like being undecided about whether you want grizzly bears in schools?
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@Arizona School Boards Association advocates visited Senator Flake & McCain this past Tuesday & asked them to vote NO on DeVos. McCain’s staffer said “elections have consequences” and McCain would be likely voting with the President. Flake didn’t commit, but he posted on Facebook yesterday that he would be voting YES, writing, “She had me at school choice.”
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Because school choice has worked so well in Arizona NOT
It has made some charter operators very rich but done nothing for the children of Az
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I called their offices before I read your message. This is a very sad situation for our state and country.
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The correct spelling is Toomey-Pa.
>
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Please correct Senator Sullivan is from Alaska not Alabama. AK not Al.
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Headline from Dayton Daily News, today, “Police raid home of charter school superintendent”. “Investigators question bounce house rental …may have been used for (superintendent’s) 35th birthday Hawaiian Luau party.”
Enough other charges, in other cases, have been proven, to lend credence to the National Alliance of Charter Schools’ pronouncement about the outrage Ohioans should feel.
Sen. Portman can force Ohioans to continue bleeding tax dollars, which are intended for kids’ educations or, he can pull the plug on contractor charter schools (in other words, all of them). And about, Sen. Sherrod Brown, who shares the “progressive” labeling that Sen. Corey Booker does…what the h_ll?
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Senator Sullivan is from AK, or so I’ve been told when I shared your post. Thanks for giving us the info.
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All day, today, all of Portman’s 6 phone numbers have been busy or, the answer received was, “The mailbox is full.”
If I was suspicious, I would think one answer is that the offices don’t want a record of the number of citizens opposing DeVos.
I hope voters remember the next time Portman runs for election.
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Huffpo reports Toomey’s 8 phone numbers have the same problem that Portman’s do.
If the political hacks in Washington approve DeVos, every public school system in America should refuse to comply with all directives from the U.S., Dept. of Ed. and, refuse to comply with all directives, issued by state departments of ed. that are acting as cover for the policies of the U.S./Gates/Walton/DeVos Ed. Department.
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As far as I can tell, Republican senators are not answering their phones. Not a good sign. But keep those calls coming anyway.
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I’ll call until the vote is taken.
Again, thanks, for all you do and, to Mary.
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Please do better for children than putting Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education. They deserve an informed intelligent experienced knowledgeable public education leader. Thank you…
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Say NO to Devos
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All by McCain have released statements that they are supporting her nomination.
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I believe Senator Sullivan is from Alaska, AK, not Alabama, AL. See http://www.sullivan.senate.gov/
Also, I have set up this spreadsheet of contact information for the US Senate including phone numbers, fax numbers (one can use http://faxzero.net to send free faxes like sending an email), Facebook and Twitter links and much more. See http://tinyurl.com/SenateContactInfoByLeeTilson
If you sort the entire spreadsheet by column U, you will see that there are two Republican Senators up for re-election in 2018 who won by relatively small margins in 2012:
Heller of Nevada (Harry Reid’s state) by 1%, and
Flake of Arizona by 4%.
I set up the first column of the spreadsheet to identify the Senators you recommend contacting. If you sort by that column, it will be easier to get the information.
I am always going to consider contacting them and any friends I have in Nevada or Arizona.
Are we asking friends who live in the states of the Senators to contact them?
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The Network for Public Education is reaching out to members in every state.
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Thank you. Based on your information, I set up this spreadsheet to make it easier for people to make the contact. Feel free to share. http://tinyurl.com/SenatorsToContactReDevos
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Your info is great, thanks so much for compiling it! As for Flake, AZ school board members visited him on Feb 1st in his D.C. office and asked him to vote no on DeVos. He has since posted on FB that he will vote yes, but we are keeping up the pressure. The problem is that he is vulnerable from the far right in 2018, especially since he made it a point to never endorse Trump. McCain’s staffer told us he will vote yes, but again, we continue to push him to vote no as well. We welcome all the help we can get!!!
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Linda, thanks for never giving up.
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